Printing mechanism



Dec. 8, 1942. vAHLE PRINTING Mrscumusray Filed Dec. 17, 1940 ssheets-sheet 1 Dec. 8, 1942. 1:2.v VAHLE 2,304,386

PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 17, 1940 j 3 'Sheets-Sheet 2 v Dec. 8,1942. R., VAHLEV 2,304,386

` PRINTING MEcHANIsM AFiled De. 17, 1940 -3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec.8, 1942 PRINTING MECHANISM Raymond Vahle, Tappan, N. Y., assigner toLeon Benoit, New York, N. Y.

Application December 17, 1940, Serial No. 370,474.

r Claims. (Cl. lOl-292) The device of the present invention, in the formshown, isl especially adaptable for recurrently applying a date or othermarking to a tape or strip which may be employed to seal packages orcartons while advancing processionally. Such a tape or strip, which isusually continuous, is severed and adhered to the respective packages orcartons, and it is to the. sealing sections of such a tape or strip thatthe printingr or stamping isV desirably applied.

The present mechanism, however, may be used for recurrently, and atuniform intervals, stamping or marking a continuous strip employed forother than sealing purposes. For convenience, however, I shall refer tothe present mechanism as a dating device, and in illustrating theparticular use for which it is intended I haveicombined the device witha carton sealing mechanism such as is illustrated and described in theBenoit pat-- ent, No. 2,116,259, of March 3, 1938, wherein a continuoussealing strip is fed from a roll and applied over the joint between twocover sections, the` pressure exerted by the advancing carton itselfbeing utilized to actuate thel mechanism for feeding and cutting theadherent strip.

The present dating device, which is constructed as a self-containedunit, is adaptedA for direct attachment to a sealing machine, of' whichone example is set forth in the. patent aforesaid, whenever it isdesired to date or otherwise specially mark the packages, cartons, orother objects being sealed. Y

Further details of the invention will appear from the descriptionthereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1is a side elevation of a strip feeding mechanism of the character shownin the aforesaid Benoit patent, with the dating device of the presentinvention securedl thereto;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the dating device;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same, looking inwardly toward thestrip feeding mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a plan view partly in section, taken on line` 4--4 of Fig. 3,with the top frame section removed:

Fig.. 5 is a sectional elevation, taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6` isa sectional deta' of Fig. 4; and v Fig. 7 is a perspectiveview of the receptacle which holds the dating type. p

.The dating device is mounted upon standards l0 which spring upwardlyfroma. table or platform lil along which the cartons or otherobjects areAadvanced in the lmanner described in the `f taken on line 6-6 Benoitpatent aforesaid, in which each carton, as it moves toward the sealingposition, exerts a pressure which serves to operate the mechanism forfeeding the adherentv strip downwardly.

In the present embodiment of the invention here being described, theshaft I2 is a shaft to which a single rotation is imparted by thepassage of each carton, and theA rotation of this shaft is utilized toactuate the dating stamp of the present invention, so that each sectionof the continuous strip will receive the date or other imprint inpreparation for the application of the leading strip section to a cartonor the like as it comes into position to be sealed in the mannerdescribed in the Benoit patent aforesaid.

The. standards lll` are notched'at their upper ends I3 to receive aspindle Hlwhich,` mounts a roll `R. of adherent strip material S whichis fed down from the roll in front of the sloping surface of anobliquely disposed frontplate l5', which is secured to the spacedstandard I0 in preparation for the moistening and severing of theleading section in lche manner described in said Benoit patent.

The` dating device. is carried by a framev ccmprising an upper framesection I6 and a lower frame section I1, each provided with inwardlysp-aced legs I8. The legsr of the upper and Iower frame sections on oneside embrace a block I9 which is secured to the face of the adjacentstandard l0, by means of screws 20. The inner ends of the legs arepivoted upon a pintel 2l which extends through the block, whicharrangement permits the frame as a whole to be swung outwardly to thedotted line position shown in Fig. 4,. as occasion may require. Thelower frame section is extended on its outer edge to afford a platform22 which carries a pair of spaced vertically disposed spindles 23 whichafford mountings for a pair of ribbon spools 24 carrying an inkingribbon 25 which affords the inked surface for applying the imprint tothe sealing strip through the action of type 26 mounted within arectangular block'2l (Fig. 7) provided with a recess 28`for thereception of the group of type which are clamped lin place by a plate 29and a thumb screw 3U. The block 2T is slidably mounted between the upperand lower frame sections, and the thumb screw is entered through a slot3l which permits the type block to reciprocate toward and from thesealing strip. The ends of the recess 28 are closed by side plates 32,and the type block is positioned between spacer bars 33- which not onlyserve to afford guides for the type block but also serve to unite theupper and lower frame sections which are held together by the tie bolts34.

Immediately below the upper frame section is located a lever 35 which ispivoted at one end on a shouldered screw bolt 3S entered into a spacerblock 3l located at the front left hand corner of the frame, to whichthe lower frame section is secured by means of a screw bolt 35i. Thelever near its free end is provided with a shouldered screw 39 enteredthrough a slot di? in the upper frame section, which affords limitedswinging movement for the lever and at the same time holds the free endagainst sagging. |lfhe medial portion of the lever lies within ashouldered recess lil in the front upper face of the typebloclr 21 andembraces the upper end of a pintlet which is entered through a slot 43in the lever to permit the oscillating movements of the lever to impartin and out movements to the typ-e block and the group of type carriedthereby.

The free end of the lever constitutes the armature for an electro-magnet44 which is energized momentarily during the vpassage of each section ofthe sealing strip. The energizing of the magnet is'effected through theclosing of a spring switch 45 (Fig. 1) which is contacted momentarily bya cam i6 on the shaft l2, which is rotated once 4during each passage ofa carton or the like, .in the manner described in the Benoit patentaforesaid. The energizing of the magnet draws theY lever 35 inwardlyagainst the tension of a spring 47 (Fig. 2) which is connected at itsforward end to a nger 43 extending from the lever, and atits oppositeend to a linger 49 outwardly projecting from the pivoted leg of theupper frame section. This forces the type vand inking ribbon inwardly toimprint a date orother marking on the sealing strip. In order to feedthe inking ribbon after each impression has been recorded,`each ribbonspindle 23 is provided near its lower end with a ratchet t having sawteeth 5i which present their abrupt faces inwardly for contact with anintermediate dog 52 having oppositely disposed teeth E3 for contact witheither of the ratchets.

The dog is pivoted upon a pintle 5d carried by a linger 55 outwardlyextending from the type blockl 2!so that the dog partakes of thereciprocating movements imparted to the type block by the lever 35i, andthus imparts a feeding stroke to the ratchet with which the dog may beengaged for the time being.

The dog is located between the toothed vedges of the ratchets whichlimit its swinging move-Y ment. and the dog has depending. therefrom alinger 5l entered through registering. slots 5B and 59, the former ofwhich is formed ,in the lower frame section and the latter in a leverSt, which is pivoted on a shouldered screw iil and terminates in aAhandle t2 which permits the dog to be shifted in one direction or theother in order to engage either one of the ratchets.

The tooth of the dog, when adjusted, is held in engagement with theselected ratchet by the ac.u tion of a'spring pin 6.3. the free end ofwhichis entered through the depending nnger 5l while its opposite end isentered through a collar et and secured by a screw 65 to the under faceof the lever Bi).- The action of the spring serves to hold the dog underspring tension in either direction.

The frame is normally held in locked position with thelegs ofthe upperand lowerframe sections embracing a spacerblock G5 which is bolted tothe front plated `5. p A thumb screw 6?, entered through a bracket 5Bwhich vis bolted to the plate l5, serves to lock the frame and at thesame time permits it to be swung back into the position indicated indotted lines in Fig. 4, as occasion may require.

The ribbon spools are fitted to the respective ratchets 5t and areprovided with pins so entered into apertures 69 in the ratchets that theparts will rotate in unison, and the spools are held in position by abridge bar lll, which at each end bears against anv arch spring 7| heldin place by a thumb nut l2 screwed onto the upper end of the spindle 23.This arrangement affords a light tension suflicient to hold the spoolssteady, but

Y in order to prevent overfeeding of the spools, the

lever Gil is provided with a stud it through which is entered a flatspring lll whose ends are adapted to bear against the teeth of therespective ratchets, so that when adjusted in either direction the teethof the active ratchet will be engaged by the associated end of thespring which prevents baci: turning of the ratchet on the inwardmovements of the dog whilev coming back over the ratchet teeth.

Operation In use, the cartons or other objects to be sealed will advanceas a procession to the sealing point, and as each carton moves intosealing position it will impart rotationto the shaft l Zwhich carriesthe cam 4t. At the proper instant the cam will close the switch t5,thereby energizing the magnet and drawing in the free end of the lever35, which will advance theV type block and the group of type carriedthereby toward the sealing strip, thereby applying a date mark or otherdesired imprint at the intended point on each section of the strip vinturn. 1

-With each inward movement ofthe type block, thelever which carries thedog 52 will be drawn inwardlyfand when the magnet is deenergized, thetension of the spring Il? will restore the lever to its outermostposition, and thus impart a thrust to the dog, which will VVadvance theengaged ratchet by a single tooth so that the ribbon will beprogressively fed from one spool tothe other until it. becomesnecessaryto reverse the ribbon feed by throwing the dog into engagement with theother ratchet. v

When it becomes necessary to change the type, the thumb screw 61 will beloosened-which allows the entire framev to be swung outwardly on theshouldered bolt 2l as a pivot, so that easy'access may be obtained tothe type block. By loosening the thumb screw St and relieving thepressure upon the clamping plate 29, `the type may be withdrawn andothers substituted. 1 p The device as a whole constitutes aself-contained unit which may be readily secured to any form of stripfeeding device which is recurrently actuated to feed forward thestrippsections, Vso that the dating orother marking will be applied inconnection with each feeding operation of the strip. Y Y

Although thedevice is particularly adaptedfor use in the dating of stripsections intendedfor the sealing of cartons, it may be readily employedto apply the intended imprinttolany kind of a strip, adhesive orotherwise, and it'is immaterial whether the strip be cut into "sectionsor otherwise employed. V-

Although the invention has been described with particularityas todetail, it is noti the intention, unless otherwiseindicated in 'the'claims, tolimitthe invention -to `the precise form shown, sincenumerous'variations in detail may be incorporated without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, adapted to operate in associationwith strip feeding mechanism, a type holder1 having type locatedadjacent to the position to be traversed by the strip, means for guidingthe type holder in reciprocating movements toward and from the strip, anelectro-magnet located at one side of the type holder and an armature inthe form of a lever pivoted at one end and extending transversely of thetype holder and having its free end in proximity to the magnetandconnected with the type holder for imparting a printing movement to thetype holder and type when the magnet is energized and the free end ofthe armature lever drawn toward the magnet and means adapted to operatein synchronism with the strip feeding mechanism for recurrentlyenergizing the magnet.

2. In a device of the class described, adapted to operate in associationwith strip feeding mechanism, a type holder having type located adjacentto the position to be traversed by the strip, means for guiding the typeholder in reciprocating movements toward and from the strip, anelectro-magnet located at one side of the type holder and an armature inthe form of a lever pivoted at one end and extending transversely of thetype holder and having its free end in proximity to the magnet andconnected to the type holder for imparting a printing movement to thetype holder and type when the magnet is energized and the free end ofthe armature lever drawn toward the magnet, means for energizing the`magnet including a switch in the magnet circuit, and a device adaptedto operate in synchronism with the strip feeding mechanism and adaptedto close said switch during each feeding cycle of the strip feedingmechanism.

3. `In a device of the class described, adapted to operate inassociationwith strip feeding mechanism mounted within a support, aprinting unit comprising a frame adapted to be pivoted at one end tosaid support, a type holder slidably mounted within the frame andcarrying type adapted to move toward and from the strip, a pair ofribbon spools mounted upon the frame and a ribbon having its ends woundupon the said spools and having an intermediate portion of the ribboncarried across the face of the type, a ratchet associated with each ofthe ribbon spools, an adjustable dog movable with the type holder andmeans for moving the dog into engagement with either of the ratchets,means for moving the type holder and type toward and away from theposition traversed by the strip to cause the ribbon to imprint thereonand adapted with each imprinting movement to impart a feeding movementthrough the dog to the engaged spool ratchet and the spool associatedtherewith, the means for moving the type holder being in the form of anarmature lever CII pivoted at one end and a magnet adapted to be securedto said support in proximity to the free end of the armature lever whenin normal position and adapted when energized to draw the armature levertoward the magnet and means adapted to coact with strip feedingmechanism for recurrently energizing the magnet during each stripfeedingoperation, the frame and parts carried thereby being adapted to be swungas a unit away from its normal position adjacent the feeding line of thestrip.

4. In a device of the class described, adapted to operate in associationwith strip feeding mechanism mounted Within a support, a printing unitcomprising a hingedly mounted frame normally standing adjacent to theline of travel of the strip, a type holder slidably mounted within theframe and carrying type and adapted to move toward and away from thestrip, a pair of ribbon spools mounted upon the frame and a ribbonhaving its ends wound upon said spools and having an intermediateportion of the ribbon carried across the face of the type, spool feedingmeans adapted to be moved by each movement of the type holder and meansadapted to operate .in synchronism with the strip feeding mechanism forimparting a printing movement to the type holder with each strip feedingoperation, the frame being adapted to be swung as a unit away from itsnormal position` adjacentthe feeding line of the strip.

5. In a device of the class described, adapted to operate in associationwith strip feeding mechanism mounted within a pair of standards, a frameconsisting of upper and lower frame sections hingedly mounted as a unitupon one of i the said standards in position to be swung into or awayfrom engagement with the other standard, a type holder slidably mountedbetween said frame sections and carrying type in proximity to the `lineof movement of the strip, a pair of ribbon spools mounted upon the lowerframe section each being connected with a ratchet, a dog pivoted to thetype holder and adapted to have its acting end thrown into coactiverelation with either of said ratchets and means for thus adjusting saiddog, a ribbon having its surface passing across the face of the type andhaving its ends mounted upon the ribbon spools and means operable whenthe frame is in closed .relation to both standards for moving said typecarrier toward and away from the strip to imprint the same, said meansbeing in the form of a lever pivoted at one end to one of the framesections and connected at an intermediate point to the type holder, amagnet located in proximity to the free end of the lever and adaptedwhen energized to draw the lever toward the magnet and means adapted tobe actuated in synchronism with the strip feeding mechanism formomentarily energizing said magnet during each strip feeding operation.

RAYMOND VAHLE.

